The guidelines by the Malta Chamber of Pharmacists on how pharmacists should ask questions as part of the protocol to dispense emergency contraception is within the best interest and safety for the woman requesting it, the chamber said.

Earlier this week a post made rounds on local social media groups regarding the way a woman was treated by a pharmacist whilst trying to purchase the morning after pill (MAP). The woman, who remained anonymous, described feeling “miserable” after being questioned by a pharmacist in front of other customers. When the customer wished to pay for the MAP, the pharmacists refused to give her the MAP without a doctor’s prescription and added comments that it was “irresponsible to cover everything with the pill.”

The woman questioned why she was asked such questions in front of other customers, asking why “we are so behind regarding contraception.” She also pointed out that even pregnancy tests and condoms are placed behind the counter and not on the shelves, which could lead to embarrassment when asking for such products.

Several comments were posted beneath the Facebook post, while others recounted similar experiences of difficulty and shame when purchasing the MAP.

Another woman said she had gone to a pharmacy in Swieqi where a pharmacist not only asked who she had had sex with and why he was not wearing a condom, but also took down details of her ID card.

“I understand questions about when I had sex or whether I have any medical conditions, but the questions I was asked felt like they were intend to judge and shame.”

The Morning After Pill is sold without the need for a prescription but pharmacists can refuse to sellit based on their professional judgment and conscience. They are, however, duty bound to advise the patient from where to obtain the pill.

 

Chamber of pharmacists has not received any complaints

The Malta Chamber of Pharmacists told The Malta Independent that it has not received any such complaints from the public regarding the manner in which pharmacists are asking MAP-related questions.

Mary Ann Sant Fournier, President of the Chamber of Pharmacists, explained that questions are asked in the best interest and safety of the woman requesting it. She said that the Chamber has explained the raison d’etre of the questions that pharmacists ask as part of the protocol to dispense emergency contraception. When asked whether pharmacists should take the client to the side or in another room to ask these questions, she said that in the Chamber’s guidance is that the process is “carried out in the best confidential way possible.”

Sant Fournier explained that if the Chamber does receive such complaints, the Chamber would reiterate its guidance with members.

The newsroom also asked why certain pharmacies place condoms and pregnancy tests behind the counter, to which Sant Fournier replied that there is no specific requirements as to how such products are placed and this is the choice of the pharmacist.

 

Admin of “Women for Women” social media page writes letter to Chamber

Francesca Fenech Conti, admin of the “Women for Women” Facebook page, has sent a letter to the Chamber of Pharmacists regarding the number of anonymous posts she has received on the issue.

The long letter highlighted that women face and experience specific issues when trying to buy emergency contraception in Malta and that it “would be very helpful if the public was made aware by the Chamber of Pharmacists of the correct procedure at law for dispensing this over the counter medication.”

She asked whether pharmacists are allowed to ask certain questions irrelevant to a woman’s medical health. She wrote that “personally I see no need to ask any form of questions because whenever I go to buy other over the counter medication I am never asked and sort of questions. I don’t ever recall being asked when was the last time I had a headache when asking for Nurofen or how long have you been coughing if I go to buy cough syrup, unless I specifically ask for the pharmacist’s advice about which medication I should use. However, should you insist on asking questions, these should be standardised for all pharmacies and they should be publicly announced to ensure no abusive or embarrassing questions are asked to people wanting to buy this pill and people should be taken aside to a private area while being asked these private and for some people very embarrassing questions.”